1 LB Sodium Carbonate Monohydrate Powder, ACS, 99+% Purity

Sodium carbonate, also known as soda ash or washing soda, is a versatile inorganic compound with a wide range of industrial, domestic, and specialized applications. It is commonly used as a water softener by precipitating calcium and magnesium ions, which reduces water hardness. In household cleaning, it functions as a detergent builder and cleaning agent, particularly in laundry powders, due to its ability to saponify fats and grease. It is a key ingredient in the manufacture of glass, where it acts as a flux to lower the melting point of silica, and is also used in the production of soap, paper, and various sodium compounds like borax. In the food industry, sodium carbonate serves as a food additive (E500) for pH regulation, as a raising agent, and in the preparation of certain foods such as ramen noodles (kansui), pretzels, and moon cakes, where it enhances texture and browning. It is also used in the production of snus to stabilize pH, in sherbet powders for its endothermic reaction with acids, and as a pH regulator in swimming pools and aquariums to maintain carbonate hardness. Additionally, sodium carbonate is employed in photographic film development, dyeing textiles with fiber-reactive dyes, and in the processing of animal hides. Its mild alkalinity makes it a safer and more economical alternative to stronger bases like sodium hydroxide in many chemical processes.